A protector guide for the worst-case scenario
19.7.2018
Translation: machine translated
Protectors are no longer an annoying piece of armour, a lot has happened in this area. We have over 500 products in our range that you can use to protect just about anything. How do they work and what makes sense for you? Here is an overview.
When I saw Senior Editor Patrick Bardelli handling a box full of protectors in the office before his Gorilla Tour and a small crowd of people quickly formed around him, it was clear that there was a need for clarification. Is this going on the knee? Or on the elbow? Which joint still has nothing and what about the back? So let's dive into the world of protectors, because the topic is important and the options are varied.
The right protectors for your purpose
It's possible to overdo it with protective equipment. You need to find the right compromise between freedom of movement and safety. Your riding style and intended use are therefore important when deciding what to buy. Obviously, the more you take risks, the more protection you need. If you ride downhill or enduro and regularly fall steeply downhill at high speed, the protectors need to be able to withstand more and should have a correspondingly robust design with hard-shell elements. If you are mainly travelling on longer tours and easy trails, you are more likely to find soft protectors.
Soft protectors: Functionality and materials
The name says it all and suggests that protectors in this category will not restrict your freedom of movement. They all protect according to the same principle: soft elements convert the impact energy of a fall through deformation. The force of the impact is absorbed and distributed over a larger area. Sounds simple. However, there is more to high-quality protectors than just any old piece of plastic.
Viscoelastic foam materials ensure that the protectors become more flexible when worn due to your body heat and therefore adapt to your anatomy. Thanks to their memory effect, you deform them so that they don't bother you, but not permanently. They "unfold" again after wearing. In the event of an impact, they absorb the energy and change their structure in the process.
If they then return to their original state, this is known as multi-impact capability. This means that your protector is ready for the next emergency and does not need to be replaced, as is the case with models with a polystyrene core, for example. Models with adapted damping behaviour also react differently depending on the situation. A light impact is gently cushioned, while the resistance of the foam increases sharply on hard impacts and absorbs the energy quickly.
Hard shell protectors: Functionality and materials
Hard shell, soft core. The outer layer of these protectors is made of less elastic plastics such as polypropylene or polycarbonate. These materials are less high-tech and more commonplace. However, they can still be worth their weight in gold, as they are not penetrated by branches and other sharp objects and protect you accordingly. However, the hard shell absorbs much less energy on impact, with a layer of special foam underneath doing the job. Overall, you are therefore more heavily packed and less flexible, even though the construction is of course designed to give you as much freedom of movement as possible. This is why downhill riders who are travelling at high speeds with a correspondingly high risk of falling are particularly likely to use them.
So far, so good. So what's available for which parts of the body? Let's start with the sensitive joints, which probably immediately spring to mind as being particularly in need of protection.
Elbows and knees
These joints are often affected in the event of a fall, but you also need to remain flexible in these areas of your body when riding. Soft protectors are lightweight and fit in your luggage even if you only want to put them on for tricky sections. At just over 50 grams, the G-Form Pro-X elbow protectors don't weigh much.
Alle Ellbogen-Protektoren im Überblick
Being light on your feet is always nice, but the protectors should also protect the vulnerable areas over a large area - including the lateral knee joint, for example. A good fit combined with non-slip elements on the inner surface and additional fastening options are also important. After all, a protector that slips quickly is of little use in an emergency. The only thing worse is a protector that you don't put on at all for the sake of comfort. That's why there are models such as the ION Bike K-Lite-Zip, which can be opened all the way round and save you having to take your shoes off. This protector combines a concealed hard cap with a soft pad and can therefore absorb even harder impacts.
All knee protectors at a glance
In shin guards opinions differ
Since even the sturdiest bones can use additional protection, there are combinations of knee and shin protectors. This is where opinions differ, because freedom of movement in the knee joint is everything when biking. If you've already dug a few scars into your shin with the pedals, you may see things differently and there have long been systems that combine comfort and safety. That's why they're not just interesting for downhillers. With the ION Bike K-Pact-Select, the knee and shin elements are connected at the sides and can be slid over each other. With its open construction, it can also be put on without having to take off your shoes. [[productlist:5805697]]
Vest, jacket, shirt or simple back armour?
Your upper body should not be neglected when it comes to protection. Protector shirts are worn directly on the skin. They are available with padding on the shoulders, chest, ribs, back and elbows, and the shirts are breathable and dry quickly. [[productlist:6212797]]
Protector waistcoats are designed to protect your spine and have integrated back armour. In models such as the POC Spine VPD 2.0, it is additionally secured using a hip belt with a Velcro fastener. This keeps everything in place without adding too much weight. There are also versions with longer protectors down to the coccyx if you don't wear crash pants. If you're not into waistcoats, a classic back armour might be more your thing. It offers the same protection, you have more freedom of movement and it is logically more airy than a waistcoat. After all, you have the choice of what to wear with it.
With a jacket like the Leatt Body Protector 3DF AirFit, you have a complete solution for the upper body and are well equipped for downhill riding or in the bike park: It includes protectors for your back, elbows, chest and shoulders. In other words, one piece for everything, with the individual protectors being removable and washable. The chest and back protectors are connected by elasticated straps so that they always fit snugly without constricting you.
All upper body protectors at a glance
Protector backpacks
Special backpacks with integrated back protectors are particularly suitable for enduro riders. In addition to the protective function, a model like the Evoc FR Enduro Team also has 16 litres of storage space, which you can use not only for a hydration system, but also for other items. For example, your other protectors. It is available in different sizes, which you should determine using the table so that it provides optimum protection for your back.
All backpacks with protectors at a glance
Below the belt line: Crash Pants
If you've ever hit the brakes with your hip bone or coccyx, you're sure to like crash pants like the Six Six One Evo. Flexible materials are also used here, which only harden on impact and thus absorb the shock. The thighs, buttocks and buttocks are thus additionally protected and the seat is well padded. [[productlist:5705974]]
All abdominal protectors at a glance
Additional protection for your ankles
The ankle is a neuralgic point of almost every athlete's body. One twist and the ligaments are already affected. Anyone who has already had problems with this or wants to avoid them can put on a protector such as the Amplifi Ankle Support and get their feet on the ground more securely in future. [[productlist:5921396]]
Neck protection
When you're risking your head and neck on the bike, your cervical spine should be as well protected as possible. In combination with a full-face helmet, a neck protector ensures that the impact energy is transferred to the body in such a way that there is no excessive compression or overstretching of the cervical spine. The Leatt Brace DBX 5.5 is highly adjustable and can be adapted to your physique and other equipment, such as the back protector. [[productlist:6850528]]
All neck protectors in the range
Now it's up to you to equip yourself according to your needs. You have plenty of choice. With all the products that I hope you'll never really need, but will have with you in an emergency. Of course, this also includes a appropriate bike helmet.
Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.
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